The article was a well-deserved tribute to a person who has stood firm in his beliefs, regardless of whether they conflicted with his faith or not. Ed Firmage has led his life by a moral compass that often prompted criticisms from top Latter-day Saint leaders, something that is often feared and frowned upon by members of the LDS Church.

Mr. Firmage always stood strong in his respect and love for the Constitution. He also taught many students to respect the Constitution and interpret it with strict scrutiny. His leadership in changing and/or objecting to policies within the LDS Church has only made the church stronger and more inclusive of people, regardless of their race, sexual orientation, ethnicity or gender.

As a Democrat and a non-practicing member of the LDS Church, I respect Mr. Firmage's steadfastness in his political beliefs and hope that his lifetime of standing firm in his moral convictions will teach leaders and members of the LDS Church that exclusion of people who may not look or act like they do will only hurt the growth of the church and turn prospective/inactive believers away from a religion that preaches many important values lacking in our society today.

I can only hope that Mr. Firmage's example of inclusion, rather than exclusion, whether it was how he interpreted the Constitution or the policies of the LDS Church, will live long past his well-deserved retirement.

Ariane N. Holm

Arlington, Va.